CARE…COMPASSION, AUTHENTIC, RESPECT AND EVALUATE

My question to you is how much are you appreciating one another and each person you encounter? If we want to build community, country and the world, are we really doing enough? Are we looking up from our cell phones, IPads, our whatever technological gadget that distracts us from the world? Can you devote just two minutes to be selfless by offering a smile, a warm exchange or responding to a text message or an e mail. It’s call being selfless and responsible. Yes you are not a martyr of the world but we all play a tiny role in developing a better community, world and perhaps our suicide and addiction rates might reduce. Maybe it might not do much but you’re simply being a better human and what is more rewarding than self satisfaction in that I’ve done my best rather than lame excuses. Be authentic!!!

It is my hope that this blog will inspire you to be more mindful of your exchanges with every person that you encounter.This is not an attempt to state that one country is better than the other or one culture is superior than the other. Just some observatory remarks.

I’ve migrated to Vancouver since December 2010 and the first thing that was a painful reality is the impersonal exchanges or lack thereof. It’s common courtesy in my small island Trinidad when you enter any public place or public transport or taxis that you would greet someone that you may have never met in your entire life with a ” good morning” “good afternoon.” Functioning on instinct I did this to be glared at.. I no longer bother saying the exchange ; it’s the cultural norm here. On a positive note I am impressed by the customer service here in Vancouver and every store, office, government building, office and bank. I’m accustomed to “sour faces” when you enter stores in Trinidad as if you’re bothering the agenda of the day. It’s the total opposite here. Warm, friendly and enthusiastic staff is a norm.

I’ve grown use to people saying they’re so busy. I really want to say yeah we all are busy. You’re telling this to a mother of a three year old and a fourteen month old who is writing children’s books, studying an intense course and engaging in community service. Sure I’m busy but I value all my relationships and I try to be authentic as possible. I do this because I know it’s not about me I’m just a tiny vessel among millions.i wish to give than to receive. I may not be able to answer every call or text but what I can do is put a reminder to contact one person every month or bimonthly. I do this because I care to make a difference. I also know that it’s extremely impersonal to start ranting a text without saying how are you? I do not know nor do I want to assume that person may not have been asked that how are you? For days or weeks.. We are not mind readers. I’m amazed at the level of drug addiction in Vancouver and why are people addicted? One can come up with multitude reasons. Anyways I’m not a martyr or a saint but I believe in the laws of Karma. Do on to others as you will have them do on to you. What goes around comes around. You hear these so often.

I beseech you to Care
Compassion
Authentic
Respect
Evaluate
This little acronym if applied can make the world a better place. Please Care today !

I will refer to this acronym in later blogs it came to mind while I was crossing a cross walk …yes these brain waves…